To Display or Not to Display
Most of us have invested lots of time and money to grade and slab your favorite comic books, and now they are stored away in a comic box at the back of a closet in your home.For some, this truth is a travesty.
Many collectors, on the other hand, prefer to display their slabbed comic books in dynamic ways in and around their homes. This article will provide images and information about of a few of these. Before I move forward, be warned that choosing to display your books could potentially damage them. The UV light that is produced by natural light and even some artificial light sources can hurt your comic books. The plastic cases used by all of the grading companies are not UV resistant. This being said, there is a product I will examine towards the end of this article that may help with this.
Acrylic Wall Mount
The simplest and cheapest way to display your graded comic books is the use of a plastic wall mount. These mounts are inexpensive and pretty simple to use. This is one of the easiest ways to get your books out of the box and on to the wall. These mounts can also be used as holders that will securely keep your comic books upright on a shelf or display case. Keep in mind that slabbed cases are great looking on their own, so this technique can look quite sharp if executed correctly.
Custom Made Comic Book Frames
A comic store called Gweedo’s Comics in Utah sells handcrafted rustic wall frames and display cases for both raw and slabbed comic books. Gweedo’s also frames magazines, LP Records and even video game cartridges! When ordering, options for stain colour and glass type (UV resistent/non-UV resistant) are offered. Check out their website for more details.
Another company out of Wyoming called The Collector’s Resource has created a number of very cool frames for both raw and graded comic books. The company website emphasizes the quality of their products, and there is much information explaining exactly what goes in to each and every frame they manufacture…pretty impressive. Comic book frames from Collector’s Resource are made in the USA and feature single wood sheet construction (no glue or seams),rounded edges,
a three-step sanding process and a pristine and durable Powder Coat Finish. The Collector’s Resource offers tons of different frame sizes and styles, including their new POD frame, tri-fold frames and even a Bat-Frame! Check out the Collector’s Source for yourself for more information.
How to Thwart UV Light
If any of the above display methods appeal to you, be sure to take a look at The Collector’s Resource UV filtering film which can be applied directly to any slabbed comic book. These museum grade adhesive sheets will actually block out 98% of these harmful rays, thus providing some degree of protection to your treasured comic books. Again, I just want to stress that you may be putting your prized comic’s in harm’s way should you choose not to use a UV-resistant product like this.
Final Thoughts
There are many companies out there that manufacture and sell display frames and other products to help you effectively display your slabbed comic books, so be certain to visit the websites mentioned above, and do some research yourself. And please share your findings with us as well! Below I have included a few pictures of some very cool ways collectors have displayed their comic books.
…and remember, before you display your comic books, be sure they look their best – contact The Comic Doctor to find out how!
Send me your displays and I will post them here… thanks for reading.
My solution to displaying my prized comics is to scan them at my office, print them out and laminate them. I scan them in the slab or in the bag with a backing board depending on what I have. They look great and I don’t have to worry about UV damage. Trying to get them scanned at a store such as Staples can cause issues with copyright so if available do it yourself. They are light weight and easy to hang on the wall.
Hope that helps someone.
Happy Hunting
That is a very good solution!
Any pics?